Box Score
Utica, NY (March 28, 2014) – Stevens Institute of Technology sophomore stand out Sarah Wilcox netted what proved to be the game-winner off a free-position attempt with 4:17 left in the contest to lift the visiting Ducks to an 11-10 victory over host Utica College in the Empire 8 Conference opener for the Pioneers on the turf at Charles A. Gaetano Stadium Friday afternoon.  Utica remains winless in seven tries all-time against Stevens, but Friday's one goal game marks the closest the Pioneers have ever come to beating the Ducks in the series that dates back to 2008.

The Pioneers snapped a four game winning streak and their record moved to 4-2 overall and 0-1 in the Empire 8.  Stevens has now won two in a row and moved its record to 4-5 overall, and the Ducks remain unblemished in conference play with a 2-0 record.  

UC junior Morgan DuPont (Wynantskill, NY/Averill Park) tied the school-record for assists in a single game with five and she now ranks third on the College's career assist list with 46.  She now needs two more assists to tie Katlyn Banker '12 for second all-time.  Tammy Kohanski '11 holds the school's career mark with 57 career assists.  DuPont's 16 assists this season leads the Empire 8.

Utica trailed 10-7 with 15 minutes left in the contest until the Pioneers rattled off three straight goals in a span of 8:15 to knot the score at 10-10 with 6:07 left in regulation.  Sophomore midfielder Courtney Wheeler (Ava, NY/Rome Free Academy) scored the Pioneers 10^th and final goal of the game. Wheeler finished the afternoon with one goal and one assist and she now has eight points this season (six goals, two assists).

Stevens' sophomore Erika Wilcox netted the game-winner with 4:17 left off a free position shot and the Ducks were able to fend off several Pioneer attempts in the final minutes of the game to secure the victory.  Freshman goalie Janelle Welkie stopped five shots in net for the Ducks to pick up her first collegiate victory.  

Utica's Megan Kane (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) and freshman Rebecca Plunkett (Kings Park, NY/Kings Park) each recorded three goals on the afternoon. Kane leads the team with 18 goals and four assists this season, while Plunkett is not far behind with 17 goals and two assists for a total of 19 points.

Utica jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first 2:25 of the contest behind goals two goals from Megan Kane (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) and one from Julia Primps (Ossining, NY/Ossining).  Stevens answered right back and took a 4-3 lead with 13:35 left in the first half.

The Pioneers were able send the contest into the half tied at 4-4 after Plunkett scored her 15^th of the season with 53 seconds left on the first half clock. Primps assisted on Plunkett's first goal of the game. 

UC took a 5-4 lead early in the second half after Kane scored on the Pioneers' first possession of the half at the 29:42 marker.

Stevens then went on another run, scoring three consecutive goals to take the lead right back, 7-5. Wilcox led the charge for the Ducks and finished the afternoon with a game-high four goals to give her 29 on the season.  Freshman midfielder Kathleen Kalbain picked up an incredible 12 ground balls and also added three points for the Ducks.

Utica was able to tie the score back up at 7-7 with 21:08 left in the game after Patricia Kane (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) scored her sixth goal of the season. Stevens answered once again with three straight goals in a span of just 1:11 to take a 10-7 advantage with 18:09 left in the contest.

The final stat sheet was close all-around as Stevens edged UC in shots (22-21), ground balls (30-27) and each team registered 12 draw controls.

Megan Kane (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) led UC with nine ground balls, while senior Jennifer Rogaski (Schenectady, NY/Colonie Central) added four ground balls and two caused turnovers.  Sophomore goalie Erin Jacobson (Staten Island, NY/Curtis) stopped five shots in her second loss of the season between the pipes for Utica. 

Vanessa Maines (Boxborough, MA/Acton-Boxborough Regional), a two-sport athlete (women's hockey, women's lacrosse), found the back of the net for the second time this season in the Pioneer loss.

Utica turns right back around on Saturday as it hosts Hartwick College in an Empire 8 Conference contest at 1 p.m.